Journal of intensive care medicine
-
J Intensive Care Med · Nov 2020
Meta AnalysisMidodrine as an Adjuvant to Intravenous Vasopressor Agents in Adults With Resolving Shock: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
To evaluate the effects of midodrine in addition to intravenous vasopressor therapy on outcomes in adults recovering from shock. ⋯ Midodrine had no effect on ICU or hospital length of stay. These results were highly susceptible to the study heterogeneity and availability. Future investigation into standardized initiation of midodrine at an adequate dosage with an expedited titration strategy is needed in order to assess the utility of this strategy in shock management.
-
J Intensive Care Med · Oct 2020
A Comprehensive Review of the Outcome for Patients Readmitted to the ICU Following Trauma and Strategies to Decrease Readmission Rates.
In recent years, there has been an emphasis on evaluating the outcomes of patients who have experienced an intensive care unit (ICU) readmission. This may in part be due to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's Hospital Readmission Reduction Program which imposes financial sanctions on hospitals who have excessive readmission rates, informally known as bounceback rates. The financial cost associated with avoidable bounceback combined with the potentially preventable expenses can result in unnecessary financial strain. ⋯ Although there have been studies regarding ICU bounceback, there are limited studies regarding ICU bounceback of trauma patients and even fewer proven strategies. Although many studies have concluded that respiratory complications were the most common factor influencing ICU readmissions, there is inconclusive evidence in terms of a broadly applicable strategy that would facilitate management of these patients. The purpose of this review is to highlight the outcomes of patients readmitted to the ICU and to provide an overview of possible strategies to aid in decreasing ICU readmission rates.
-
J Intensive Care Med · Aug 2020
Review Case ReportsProning in Non-Intubated (PINI) in Times of COVID-19: Case Series and a Review.
It has been well known for decades that prone positioning (PP) improves oxygenation. However, it has gained widespread acceptance only in the last few years since studies have shown significant survival benefit. Many centers have established prone ventilation in their treatment algorithm for mechanically ventilated patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ⋯ It can also be performed safely at smaller centers and, therefore, may reduce the patient transfer to larger institutions that are overwhelmed in the current crisis. We present a case series of 2 patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure who experienced significant improvements in oxygenation with PP. In addition, the physiology of PP is described, and concerns such as proning in obese and patient's anxiety are addressed; an educational pamphlet that may be useful for both patients and health care providers is provided.
-
J Intensive Care Med · Aug 2020
ReviewAcute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Etiology, Pathogenesis, and Summary on Management.
The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has multiple causes and is characterized by acute lung inflammation and increased pulmonary vascular permeability, leading to hypoxemic respiratory failure and bilateral pulmonary radiographic opacities. The acute respiratory distress syndrome is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, and effective treatment strategies are limited. This review presents the current state of the literature regarding the etiology, pathogenesis, and management strategies for ARDS.
-
J Intensive Care Med · May 2020
Meta AnalysisUltrasound-Guided Percutaneous Dilational Tracheostomy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Meta-Analysis.
Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) is a common and increasingly used procedure in the intensive care unit (ICU). It is usually performed with bronchoscopy guidance. Ultrasound has emerged as a useful tool in order to assist PDT, potentially improving its success rate and reducing procedural-related complications. ⋯ The ultrasound-guided PDT seems to be safe and it is comparable to the bronchoscopy-guided PDT regarding the major and minor procedural-related or clinical complications. It also seems to reduce the minor complications when compared to the anatomical landmark-guided PDT.